So, today is the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, and we’re celebrating (is it weird to be celebrating a death?) by promoting the DVD, Video On Demand, and educational kit release of Philomath Films’ Still Dreaming.
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In my last post, I (kind of) reviewed the latest film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, written by Julian Fellowes and directed by Carlo Carlei. Since then, the film—and the play on which it is based—has been haunting me. I simply can’t pull my mind away from Romeo and Juliet for long. I awoke this morning, in fact, with the faint memory of performing in and/or directing a production in my dreams.
I am sad to report that upon further review, the call on the field stands: the Carlei/Fellowes Romeo and Juliet remains an exercise in condescension. Usually, if I’m still pondering a work long after seeing it, it means it has either profoundly impacted my life or inspired me to reconsider my initial reaction. Part of me was hoping time would help me see more redeeming qualities in the film, but if that’s to be the case, one week has not been long enough.
I have, however, been ruminating on the film’s usefulness. In doing so, I have come to the tentative conclusion that I am glad the film was made.
I adore Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Like so many others, I first read it as a high school freshman. It was my first exposure to Shakespeare (the first I remember, anyway) and reading it, unbeknownst to me at the time, would set me on my professional journey.
I think I liked Shakespeare back then because that’s what I was supposed to like. It was as though I earned smart, artsy girl street cred by being a Shakespeare fan. The words were so pretty, and I didn’t find them nearly as difficult as I was led to believe I would, so I felt pretty good about myself.
As time and my Shakespearean education went on, I grew to appreciate the plays for what they are instead of how they make me look. I’m no longer a blind-faith fangirl. With the help of some excellent professors and performance opportunities, I have learned to value the text* for what it says about the characters, their motivations, their world, their lives.